PCK Weekly Newsletter

Foundation Meeting (8:30 a.m.)

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences

Fall Break

SAC Meeting (8:15 a.m.)

PTO Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

Class Pictures and Picture Retakes

Board of Directors Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

Trunk-or-Treat and Class Parties

Dear PCK Families,

One of my favorite parts of being an educator is getting to see those little moments when learning clicks for a student.

But here’s the thing, the “click” usually comes after a lot of struggle.

It might look like a kindergartener trying to sound out a word, an elementary student staring at a math problem and saying, “I don’t get it,” or a middle schooler wrestling with a challenging text. There may be erasing, frustration, mistakes, and a few deep sighs along the way.

That is productive struggle, and it is a really important part of learning.

As parents, it can be hard to watch our children struggle. Our instinct is often to jump in and make it easier. But sometimes the most helpful thing we can say is, “I know this is hard. I’m right here. Let’s figure it out together.”

We don’t want our children to believe that being successful means everything comes easily. We want them to learn, “I can do hard things.” Our job isn’t to remove every obstacle. It’s to help our children learn how to navigate them.

Sometimes we help. Sometimes we model. Sometimes we ask a question. And sometimes, we step back and let them wrestle with it.

That struggle builds something bigger than a completed assignment. It builds confidence, perseverance, independence, and resilience. And when that moment finally comes, the "click," the "lightbulb", the pride belongs to them.

That’s the work of learning. Honestly, it’s one of the best parts of watching our kids grow.

Next week is parent teacher conferences. We welcome you to partner with us, sign up for a time slot and let's talk about the productive struggle, the accomplishments and the growth of your student.

With gratitude,

Stephanie Harper, Academic Director/Principal (4th-8th)

Our Board of Directors has approved the Academic Calendar for the 2027-28 school year!

The approved calendar is available above and on the PCK website for your convenience. Feel free to save a copy for future reference as you plan ahead for the upcoming school year.

If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to sign up for a Parent Teacher Conference with your student’s teacher.

As a reminder, we ask that our 6th-8th grade families schedule a conference only if you have concerns regarding your student’s grades or behavior.

Additionally, please remember that our school will follow an early dismissal schedule on conference days. As a result, carpool start times will be adjusted for each wave.

Both days will be early dismissal days, with carpool pick-up times adjusted accordingly:

• First wave: 12:10 p.m. (from 3:10 p.m.)
• Second wave: 12:20 p.m. (from 3:20 p.m.)
• Third wave: 12:30 p.m. (from 3:30 p.m.)

This past week, two of our middle school electives had the opportunity to come together for an engaging, hands-on experience that brought real-world learning into the classroom.

Our Sports Media elective visited our Sports Training students, who are currently in the middle of their floor hockey unit. Under the guidance of their instructor, students have been learning the rules and fundamentals of the sport before putting their skills to the test in a culminating tournament and championship game.

Sports Media students took on the role of reporters during the championship, tracking statistics, recording game outcomes, interviewing athletes, and crafted articles that captured and retold the story of the final matchup.

We’re proud to offer electives that give students opportunities to develop meaningful, practical skills they can apply both professionally and beyond their time at PCK. Experiences like this allow students to explore their interests while learning how their skills can intersect in the real world.

It’s October, which means our fall holiday celebration is right around the corner! We’re looking forward to celebrating with our students on Friday, October 30!

On this day, we’ll enjoy classroom parties and a costume parade, followed by our Trunk-or-Treat event. If you’d like to attend your student’s class party or watch the costume parade, please be sure to complete the RSVP form linked below.

Additionally, as you begin searching for your student's costume, please keep the following guidelines in mind during your search.

Please remember these guidelines regarding costumes:

• Fun, family friendly and creative costumes are encouraged
• Costumes should be non-distracting and safe for PE and recess
• Masks are allowed for the parade and Trunk-or-Treat. However, they are not allowed during the school day
• Minimal face painting is allowed; no whole face painting
• Students are welcome to bring safe costume accessories, such as a wizard's wand, a picnic basket, etc. All accessories should be clearly non-violent, non-realistic, and non-distracting to the learning environment.

Please remember that costumes cannot:

• Include toy weapons (no guns, swords, knives, hatchets, pitchforks, etc.)
• Be bloody, gory or otherwise crude and inappropriate
• Include drug or alcohol references/images, etc.
• Be too short, too low, too revealing or overtly suggestive in nature

With Fall Break right around the corner, we wanted to remind families to take a moment to check our Lost and Found for any items their students may have misplaced throughout the school year!

Items with names on them are returned to the classroom of the student who misplaced them. However, we still have several unnamed items that belong to PCK students and would love to get them back to their owners.

Please encourage your student to stop by the Lost and Found before Fall Break to see if they recognize any of the items as their own. We would greatly appreciate your help in getting these belongings back where they belong!

Any items that remain unclaimed when we leave for Fall Break will be donated.

As the weather begins to change, you may notice that your student is in need of a few warmer uniform pieces. Our authorized uniform providers are ready to help you refresh your student’s wardrobe for the season!

Tommy Hilfiger is offering PCK families another opportunity to save on uniform purchases. Now through Monday, October 5, families can receive 15% off their entire purchase when they use code 15OFF26EML at checkout.

There is no minimum purchase required to receive the discount. Simply select your uniform items, enter the promotional code above at checkout, and enjoy 15% off your purchase.

DCSD Apple Award nominations for this school year are open!

As always, we invite our families to nominate a staff member who has made a meaningful difference in your life or your child’s experience at our school. You are welcome to nominate any staff member, and you may submit as many nominations as you would like.

The nomination process is quick and easy, taking just a few minutes to complete. These nominations are a wonderful way to recognize and affirm the dedication of our staff. They remind us that, just like our school, our staff strive for excellence in everything they do.

Yearbook sales are now open!

We’ve partnered with Treering to offer families an early bird discount throughout the entire month of October! Purchase your yearbook anytime between now and October 31 and receive 10% off your entire purchase.

If you already have a Treering account, simply log in and select the yearbook through the product selection tool. If you’re new to Treering, you’ll need to create an account using PCK’s unique school code: 1015343699083637.

Registration closes this weekend for our Cross Country Camp! If you’d like your student to participate in the obstacle course and enjoy games and activities with our Cross Country athletes, please be sure to complete their registration before the deadline.

October 5 - 3:15-4:35 p.m.

Registration Closes: October 4 - 4:00 p.m.

These campers will have the chance to learn the basics of cross country through games, and obstacle courses. Campers will get to work with our middle school cross country team, and learn to love running through races and competitions! No prior experience with running is necessary.

Clubs are back at PCK for the 2026-27 school year! Please take a moment to review all of the clubs we are offering through our fall session.

This session of clubs runs from October 19 through November 19. Each club has a different day it is scheduled to meet on, which coincides within the date range listed above. Please note that a club will not meet on a day that school is not in session, or during a early dismissal day.

Registration for all clubs, with the exception of Homework Club, closes on Thursday, October 8 at the end of the day.

Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 123B (Mrs. White's tech room)

Grades: 4-6

Girls will create self portraits by combining art and code using javascript. The project theme is "Code Yourself As A Work of Art", from famous paintings and bold street art to anime, pop art, surrealism, sculpture, fashion, music, poetry, photography, or completely original styles, students can transform themselves into living works of art through code. Girls can opt to enter their programs in a national competition when they're finished.

Meeting Dates: Mondays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: PCK Playground

Grades: K-2nd

K-2 Recess Club is a fun and active opportunity for students to build friendships, practice teamwork, and learn games to facilitate participation during recess time. Through engaging activities, students develop social skills, sportsmanship, and confidence while staying active and having fun!

Meeting Dates: Thursdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 119 (Ms. Barrett's room)

Grades: K-2nd

Welcome to the Mini Makers Club! Get ready to create, craft, and have lots of fun! The Mini Makers Club is designed for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade who love making things with their hands and letting their creativity shine. Over our 5 weeks together, we’ll explore a new craft each week including: Weaving and Bracelet Making, Hand Stitching, Felt Art, Pipe Cleaner Creations, and Clay Art. Each week will bring a new project, new skills, and an opportunity to craft! Get ready to be creative, try something new, and become a Mini Maker!

Meeting Date: Mondays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 113 (Art Room)

Grades: 3rd-6th

Join Ms. Beerbower in the art room to learn and practice the basic techniques of drawing, a building block of visual art. Each week, we will start with a warm up drawing in our sketchbooks and then students will be given time to focus on a drawing of their choice. A variety of drawing materials will be available to students like drawing pencils, charcoal and sketchbooks. All skill levels are welcome!

Meeting Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Meeting Location: PCK Stage

Grades: 4th and 5th

Calling 4th and 5th graders to join the PCK Theatre Club! Students will learn and perform Elflanida, a holiday musical! Rehearsals start October 20th and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Students will perform on Thursday, November 19th at 4:00 p.m. for their families in the Events Center. This club will be limited to 25 participants on a first come, first served basis.

Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 201 (Ms. Roltgen's classroom)

Grades: 4th-6th

Students will explore fun fiber arts including crochet, knitting, and weaving while creating a variety of projects. All skill levels are welcome!

Meeting Dates: Thursdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 33 (Ms. Siegel's classroom)

Grades: 5th-8th

Board Game Club is the perfect place for students to have fun, think strategically, and make new friends through exciting games and challenges. Each week students will play a variety of board games, challenging each other to friendly competition. A different Mystery Gamer will join in the fun each session to share their favorite game, teach new skills, and join in the fun! Every meeting will bring a new surprise and lots of fun!

Meeting Dates: Monday-Thursdays, 3:20-4:15 p.m.

Meeting Location: Room 115

Grades: 3-6

At this club students will have the opportunity to work on their homework while a teacher is there to guide them through their work. Registration for Homework Club can be completed below, and will be open throughout the remainder of the school year.

Our 6th-8th grade students worked incredibly hard to raise money for their school, and now it’s time to celebrate their amazing efforts! We’re excited to host our first-ever Fund Run Celebration at Sky Zone for our 6th-8th grade students and give our students a fun-filled evening they’ve earned.

To help make this event safe, organized, and enjoyable for everyone, we need parent volunteers! If you’re available and willing to help, please sign up to be part of the festivities.

Presale tickets have closed and will be delivered to your student to bring home today. Please contact the PTO if you do not receive them or have any questions.

Email: pckpto@gmail.com or Phone: (720) 233-4700.

Tickets will still be available to purchase on-site at Lone Creek Farms tomorrow.

We can't wait to see you there as we celebrate our school community and the changing of the season with fun games, activities, and entertainment for the whole family.

Our next SAC meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 21 at 8:15 a.m. at PCK.

We warmly invite the PCK community to join us for an opportunity to engage with our team and learn more about the vital role we play within our school.

The SAC serves an essential function by providing accountability in an advisory capacity. Our purpose is to inform, encourage, and create opportunities for parents or guardians to engage meaningfully with the school's performance, budget and improvement plans.